McBain beats Hay with play-off birdie
18/09/2014
Aberdonian Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) led from start to finish to win the Paul Lawrie Invitational at Deeside Golf Club for the second time in three years.
McBain, 30, beat Grantown-on-Spey's Gavin Hay (Nairn Dunbar), this year's Scottish Young Professionals champion, with a birdie at the second hole of a sudden death play-off.
They had tied at the end of the regulation 54 holes on 10-under-par 200, 23-year-old Hay setting the clubhouse target after a closing round of 64, which matched McBain's opening-day score.
The par-four 18th was used for the shoot-out. It was halved first time round in fours. McBain holed a 12ft birdie putt the next time after Hay had been a touch strong with his approach and chipped downhill to within a yard of the hole.
It was McBain's fourth win on the Tartan Tour this season and boosted his earnings over the £26,000 mark, which ranks as his highest yet.
"I heard that Gavin Hay was back in the clubhouse at 10-under-par, which meant I had to birdie at least two of the last three holes, just to force a play-off," he said.
"I got them at the 16th and 17th but couldn't get one at the 18th to win without a play-off. I came into this tournament playing well and was pleased with the way I kept the good form going.
"I know Deeside well from my junior days as a Newmachar member. I love the course and the tournament. Having won it twice now, I must rate it as my favourite on the Tartan Tour!"
McBain, with the help of the Paul Lawrie Foundation which added him to its "stable" earlier this year, hopes to make it up to the European Tour in the not too distant future.
"I will play Europro events next year and also have a go at the European Tour Q School but that doesn't mean I am turning my back on the Tartan Tour."
Former European Tour player Kenneth Ferrie from the North-east of England finished third, three shots behind the play-off participants. He closed with his best round of the three, a four-under 66 for 203.
